The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness

Leading consultant psychiatrist Steve Peters knows more than anyone how impulsive behaviour or nagging self-doubt can impact negatively on our professional and personal lives. In this, his first book, Steve shares his phenomenally successful mind-management programme that has been used to help elite athletes and senior managers alike to conquer their fears and operate with greater control, focus and confidence.

People who bought this also bought...

Revolution

Russell Brand wants YOU to join the revolution. We all know the system isn't working. Our governments are corrupt and the opposing parties pointlessly similar. Our culture is filled with vacuity and pap, and we are told there's nothing we can do - "it's just the way things are".

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his seminal work in psychology challenging the rational model of judgment and decision making, is one of the world's most important thinkers. His ideas have had a profound impact on many fields - including business, medicine, and politics - but until now, he has never brought together his many years of research in one book.

H Is For Hawk

"Winner of the 2014 Samuel Johnson PrizeShortlisted for the 2014 Costa Biography Award‘. In real life, goshawks resemble sparrowhawks the way leopards resemble housecats. Bigger, yes. But bulkier, bloodier, deadlier, scarier, and much, much harder to see. Birds of deep woodland, not gardens, they’re the birdwatchers’ dark grail.’ As a child Helen Macdonald was determined to become a falconer. She learned the arcane terminology and read all the classic books, including T. H.

Our Iceberg Is Melting

This charming story about a penguin colony in Antarctica illustrates key truths about how deal with the issue of change: handle the challenge well and you can prosper greatly; handle it poorly and you put yourself at risk.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change

In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. With penetrating intelligence and an ability to distil vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives, Duhigg brings to life a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation.

The Second Half

Narrated by Stephen Hogan and introduced by Roy Keane. In an 18-year playing career for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United (under Sir Alex Ferguson) and Celtic, Roy Keane dominated every midfield he led to glory. Aggressive and highly competitive, his attitude helped him to excel as captain of Manchester United from 1997 until his departure in 2005.

A Short History of Nearly Everything

A Short History of Nearly Everything is Bill Bryson's quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. He takes subjects that normally bore the pants off most of us, like geology, chemistry, and particle physics, and aims to render them comprehensible to people who have never thought they could be interested in science. In the company of some extraordinary scientists, Bill Bryson reveals the world in a way most of us have never seen it before.

The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness

Dr. Steve Peters explains that we all have a being within our minds that can wreak havoc on every aspect of our lives. He calls this being "the chimp," and it can work either for you or against you. The Chimp Paradox contains an incredibly powerful mind management model that can help you be happier and healthier, increase your confidence, and become a more successful person. This audiobook will help you to recognize how your mind is working, understand and manage your emotions and thoughts, and become the person you would like to be.

Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success

Few things in life are more satisfying than beating a rival. We love to win and hate to lose, whether it's on the playing field or at the ballot box, in the office or in the classroom. In this bold new look at human behavior, award-winning journalist and Olympian Matthew Syed explores the truth about our competitive nature: why we win, why we don't, and how we really play the game of life.

The Brain's Way of Healing: Stories of Remarkable Recoveries and Discoveries

This book is about the discovery that the human brain has its own unique way of healing. For centuries we believed that the price we paid for our brain's complexity was that, compared to other organs, it was fixed and unregenerative - unable to recover from damage or illness. In his revolutionary new book, Norman Doidge turns this belief on its head.

So You've Been Publicly Shamed

From the Sunday Times top ten bestselling author of The Psychopath Test, a captivating and brilliant exploration of one of our world's most underappreciated forces: shame. 'It's about the terror, isn't it? ''The terror of what?' I said.' The terror of being found out. 'For the past three years, Jon Ronson has travelled the world meeting recipients of high-profile public shamings. The shamed are people like us - people who, say, made a joke on social media that came out badly, or made a mistake at work.

The Education of a Value Investor: My Transformative Quest for Wealth, Wisdom and Enlightenment

What happens when a young Wall Street investment banker spends a small fortune to have lunch with Warren Buffett? He becomes a real value investor. In this fascinating inside story, Guy Spier details his career from Harvard MBA to hedge fund manager. But the path was not so straightforward. Spier reveals his transformation from a Gordon Gekko wannabe, driven by greed, to a sophisticated investor who enjoys success without selling his soul to the highest bidder.

Blink

Intuition is not some magical property that arises unbidden from the depths of our mind. It is a product of long hours and intelligent design, of meaningful work environments, and particular rules and principles. This audiobook shows us how we can hone our instinctive ability to know in an instant, helping us to bring out the best in our thinking and become better decision-makers in our homes, offices, and in everyday life.

The Invisible Hands: Top Hedge Fund Traders on Bubbles, Crashes, and Real Money, Revised and Updated

In light of the colossal losses and amidst the resulting confusion that still lingers, it is time to rethink money management in the broadest of terms. Drastic changes need to be made, and managers who actually made money during 2008 make for a logical starting place. The Invisible Hands provides investors and traders with the latest thinking from some of the best and the most successful players in money management, highlighting the specific risk and return objectives of each, and discussing the evolution of certain styles and beliefs in money management.

What I Know for Sure

The inspirational wisdom of Oprah Winfrey, collected for the first time in a beautiful book. After film critic Gene Siskel asked her, 'What do you know for sure?' Oprah Winfrey began writing the 'What I Know For Sure' column in O, The Oprah Magazine. Saying that the question offered her a way to take 'stock of her life', Oprah has penned one column a month over the last 14 years.

David and Goliath

David and Goliath is the dazzling and provocative new book from Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author of The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers and What the Dog Saw. Why do underdogs succeed so much more than we expect? How do the weak outsmart the strong? In David and Goliath Malcolm Gladwell takes us on a scintillating and surprising journey through the hidden dynamics that shape the balance of power between the small and the mighty.

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Bill Bryson was struck one day by the thought that we devote more time to studying the battles and wars of history than to considering what history really consists of: centuries of people quietly going about their daily business. This inspired him to start a journey around his own house, an old rectory in Norfolk, considering how the ordinary things in life came to be.

Publisher's Summary

Do you sometimes behave irrationally or impulsively? Do you face some situations with fear and trepidation? Do feelings of self-doubt consume everyday activities? Leading consultant psychiatrist Steve Peters knows more than anyone how impulsive behaviour or nagging self-doubt can impact negatively on our professional and personal lives. In this, his first book, Steve shares his phenomenally successful mind-management programme that has been used to help elite athletes and senior managers alike to conquer their fears and operate with greater control, focus and confidence.

Seemingly complex concepts are made simple with the use of memorable analogies - such as the 'chimp', that seemingly irrational and impulsive being that inhabits our minds - and real-life case studies. Never before will you have had such a deep and clear understanding of your own behaviour and natural responses to certain people or situations. This knowledge, combined with simple techniques that can be easily incorporated into daily life, will help you to control your emotional impulses and reach your full potential, leading to success at work and a happier, harmonious home life.

I never write reviews. I only read them. However, this time I have to write this down. This book is fabulous.I have read quite some books on negotiations and how the mind works. This one beats them all If you like pratical books and not so much academic analyses, this one would fit for you.I strongly recommend this book. Read this, and you will much better understand yourself and the people surrouding you. Have fun, Patrick from The Netherlands.

Written by the chap credited with helping the UK cycling team win tens of medals over the last eight years. There is something for everybody who listens..Really solid tips and techniques to manage one's demons.. Or chimps! Great advice on my personal challenge of distraction and people pleasing... And, while I listened, I thought great advice for my friend with anxiety, my other friend with depression and my friend struggling with addiction. And even an explanation and tips on managing road rage and other outbursts of fury...Want to buy copies for all I know, and I don't remember ever saying that before

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Chimp Paradox?

Too many to relate

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Success in life is a question of understanding how our brain chimp behaves and how to manage it.

I have always suffered with a quick temper, getting stressed out when things didnt go my way and stewing on all the bad things or injustices that I have been unfortunate enough to experience.

At age 32 my marriage was on the rocks, I couldn't relax with my children and feeling like the relationship was over, mainly down to me.

I went to a seminar to see a guy called Damien Hughes. In that seminar he explained the model of the Chimp/human/computer psychological make up of the brain and it brought an instantaneous awareness of why I was feeling that way and reacting in the way I was.

I was lucky enough to sit on the same table as Damien at dinner and he told me about this website and this audio book. I went home downloaded it and listened in my car, to and from work for a week.

It was as if this book was written for me, I honestly learned more about myself from this than any councillor I've ever seen.

6 months on and after employing the strategies outlined in the book, my marriage is now thriving and the time with my kids is wonderful.

So a massive thank you to the author Dr Steve Peters and thank you to Damien Hughes (author of liquid thinking) for recommending this audio and explaining it so well that day.

46 of 49 people found this review helpful

STAPLEWIZARD

UK

12/23/12

Overall

"Helpful to some."

I found this book interesting in places but a bit tedious and repetative. Some of the concepts are difficult to follow in this audio form and I may get the written version to try to get more out of it. I don't like the way the book is read and for me this detracts from the material. I probably wouldn't have listened to all of the book only for the wonderful reviews by many people and maybe I havn't got it as yet. I will listen to the book again after reading it because I would like to get the benefits that may be available from fully absorbing the concepts of this material. I might re apraise my star rating in the future.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

ChloetheMum

United Kingdom

7/17/12

Overall

"Should be taught in Primary Schools!"

I can't praise this book enough; Steve Peters narrates his book in a down to earth, practical way, easy to understand for everyone who has any kind of interest in psychology. There are no unpronounceable technical terms, no lengthy ramblings about Jung or Freud - none of that stuff.
The book is written in simple terms that we can all understand and relate to. It is logically laid out so that each concept, such as your 'chimp', is explained BEFORE he starts talking about how to manage it (by giving it bananas), and how to put it to sleep in its box. He also talks about our goblins and gremlins, realistic and unrealistic expectations of life, and how to manage these.
I had several 'kerching' moments, when the penny dropped - so simple and obvious, and yet if you don't know what to look for, how can you find it and fix it? Steve Peters takes you through the simple steps you can take to do a 'spring clean' of your thinking and beliefs, and come out the other end a happier, more well balanced person.
What a tremendous difference it would make to our society if this stuff was taught from Primary School onwards. There'd be far less violence, for one thing, if we were all taught how to manage our 'chimps.'

35 of 37 people found this review helpful

G

Lincoln, United Kingdom

8/31/12

Overall

"Want to unlock the power of your mind/ be happier?"

An outstanding book. Having previously seen Dr Peters cited by famous sportspeople including Bradley Wiggins, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, David Millar and Craig Bellamy, for helping them reach their potential and be happy, I did wonder what his magic formula was. The model and techniques that he introduces and explains in his book help solve the mystery. I found myself agreeing with so much of what he was saying, and he helped me connect some thoughts which were already in my head but I hadn't yet worked out how they joined together; a real insight into what makes self and others tick. In some ways I wish that I had read this book years ago. It is by no means a book just for high performing sports people as his model has utility in helping people from all walks of life gain more self-awareness and manage their thoughts and emotions in very constructive way. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in personal growth.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

Graham

Hatton of Fintray, United Kingdom

2/19/12

Overall

"Excellent book (once you get used to the reader)"

I have found the content excellent in this book, initially was put off by the authors voice (sorry)
But once I got into it found the metaphors used to explain the actions and reactions if the human mind clear and concise quickly recognising recognising my own gremlins!

19 of 21 people found this review helpful

Paschal

Cork, Ireland

12/24/12

Overall

"Chimps are stupid"

Like all life changing self help books the idea could be written in 1 sentence.

At the same time, when you listen to the same thing being said out loud 500 times, eventually the penny will drop.

For me the book was life changing. My biggest challenge was being able to handle other people's bad moods (& my resulting bad moods).

By understanding the principle, this book has helped me realise what is happening. Because the idea is so simple I have been able to prevent myself from getting into a down (sad) or bad (mad) mood. I have been able to see what is going on (glad). Also even when I get into those moods, it has been able to get me out of those moods. That's no mean feat.

If it was not simple it would not be possible to overcome a mood. It is a simple and factual idea. The author keeps it simple.

I know that it will help me for the rest of my life.

It is one of the best €10s that I have ever spent. For that I am very grateful to Audible.

I have read or listened to a couple of hundred self help books, 5 of which were life changing for me.

The 80 20 Principle by Richard Koch.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

Feeling Good by David D Burnes.

The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters.

48 of 55 people found this review helpful

G-Montoya

Everywhere!

3/27/12

Overall

"Good book - But same old concept in new package"

I must say that I did get some good ideas from this book. I do find myself imagining a chimp taking over when things are not going the right way and it helps me to regain rational control.

The book is very good if you are new to the concepts or if it is the first book in the area that you have read. Otherwise it is kind of the same you will find in other self development books but package in a different way.

The concept of the chimp, the human and the computer is good but then the additional categorisation using planets, sun, moons, etc is very confusing and somehow out of sync with the main concepts. This is especially confusing for the audio version for which one does not have additional visual material to support these structures.

I would give it 3.5 stars if I could!

17 of 19 people found this review helpful

MR

Solihull, United Kingdom

11/15/12

Overall

"Life changing"

This book has changed my life in such a way. It's amazing. My chimp was ruining my life and I can see it so easily now. If you feel bad about yourself in any way this book examines this and shows you how to deal with all parts of your social/work life. I'm more relaxed now and can deal with all situations, no matter how bad or stressful with a smile. It's given me skills I can pass to my children.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Immanuel

Christchurch

4/27/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Makes a point that changes ones thinking"

Where does The Chimp Paradox rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The nuggets that are within are a bit game changing. The lightbulb of understanding the strugles that are in the daily why did I do that or why did I not do that.Tools for how to deal with it and wrapt in a well read well writen book.Thank you.

What did you like best about this story?

That the computer is the fastes and the chimp the strongest. Dealing with it!

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Wicked

England

4/21/12

Overall

"Brilliant"

Absolutely brilliant book. Such an amazing insight into the inner workings of your brain. It has helped me understand behaviour in a way I could never have done before. Everyone should listen to this!

12 of 14 people found this review helpful

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Can't wait to hear more from this listener?

You can now follow your favorite reviewers on Audible.

When you follow another listener, we'll highlight the books they review, and even email* you a copy of any new reviews they write. You can un-follow a listener at any time to stop receiving their updates.

* If you already opted out of emails from Audible you will still get review emails by the listeners you follow.